Palladium alloy

ABSTRACT

A family of alloys for use in medical, electrical contact and jewelry applications includes as primary components palladium, and boron and at least one of ruthenium, rhenium, platinum, gold, zirconium, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, tantalum and iridium. An alternative embodiment includes palladium and rhenium and/or ruthenium with an additional element iridium, platinum, tungsten, boron, gold, zirconium, cobalt, nickel and tantalum. The present alloy family has a high strength, high radio opacity, and biocompatibility characteristics, while also being workable into various configurations. Where required, some of the alloys also offer post form, heat treatment (age hardening) capabilities for even higher hardness and strength levels.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/569,671, filed May 10, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/125,746, filed May 10, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a metal alloy, and in particular, to an alloy including palladium, boron and one or more additional elements as solutes, and in particular to an alloy of palladium, boron and at least one of ruthenium, rhenium, iridium, platinum, tungsten, gold, zirconium, cobalt, nickel and tantalum. In an alternative embodiment, the alloy is of palladium and at least one of ruthenium and rhenium with an additional element chosen from iridium, platinum, tungsten, boron, gold, zirconium, cobalt, nickel and tantalum. The invention also relates to a product formed of the foregoing alloys.

2. Description of the Related Art

Platinum alloys, in particular, platinum-iridium alloys have been used in a wide variety of applications. Platinum-iridium alloys are widely used for both disposable and implantable medical devices to fabricate radio opaque marker bands for catheters, electrode rings, platinum alloy wires and coils, tubes, and machined components.

For example, radio opaque platinum-iridium alloys are used during medical procedures involving fluoroscope imaging since the radio opaque platinum-iridium alloy shows up very clearly in the fluoroscope image to thereby aid the medical personnel in performing their tasks.

The platinum-iridium alloy can also have a high yield strength or hardness along with well-established biocompatibility, which permits it to be used in implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers. The high yield strength also allows for the use of very fine wires that can accept a high torque loading during the steering of catheters or guide wires through small diameter blood vessels. The higher strength wires allow for a reduction in the wire diameter without a fear of breakage during use. Smaller diameter wires allow for access into finer blood vessels.

Platinum-iridium alloys are also popular for use in jewelry manufacturing due to its excellent white color and good hardness as well as its ability to be used in sheet stock, wire goods and investment casting. Platinum-iridium alloys have a higher melting temperature than gold alloys but can be investment cast or fabricated by cold working, hot working, and annealing, or soldering

Another application is in space vehicle applications, thermocouples, electrical contacts, etc.

Platinum-iridium alloys are sold in varying proportions of platinum to iridium. For example, the common proportions are 90% platinum to 10%, iridium, referred to as 90:10 alloy, an alloy of 85% Pt-15% Ir, or 85:15, an alloy of 80% Pt to 20% Ir, or 80:20, an alloy of 75% Pt to 25% Ir, or 75:25, a 70:30 alloy, and even a 95:5 alloy.

In summary, platinum-iridium alloys are a mainstay in the medical market and are used for everything from guide wire tips and coils, due to the good radio opacity, to machined components and implantable pacemaker components. The jewelry trade uses the platinum-iridium alloys due to their combination of strength and resistance to tarnish and oxidation. The platinum-iridium alloys provide a combination of strength and biocompatibility.

However, the price of platinum has reached record levels, recently exceeding $900 per ounce, which is three times the current cost of palladium. This places significant economic strains on the continued use of high platinum alloys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an alloy family sharing many of the characteristics of platinum-iridium alloys and is foreseeable as a lower cost replacement for platinum-iridium alloys. The present invention provides a family of alloys based on palladium and boron with an additional component. The additional component is one or more of the elements chosen from the following; ruthenium, rhenium, iridium, platinum, tungsten, gold, zirconium, cobalt, nickel and tantalum. In a further embodiment of the invention, the alloy is of palladium and one or both of ruthenium and rhenium with an additional component chosen from the following: iridium, platinum, boron, tungsten, gold, zirconium, cobalt, nickel and tantalum. According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a product formed of the foregoing alloys.

In a preferred embodiment, the additional component is one of ruthenium or rhenium or may be both ruthenium and rhenium. In one example of the preferred embodiment, the palladium component is in a range of 45% to 99.95%, the ruthenium component is in a range of 0% to 8%, the rhenium component in the range of 0% to 25% (with the sum of the Ru and Re components generally exceeding 1%) and the boron component in a range from 0.005% to 1.5%. Additional additives may be present in the alloy as well.

In second preferred embodiment, the additional component may be one or more of the following additives: platinum or gold in the range of 0% to 30%, rhenium in the range of 0% to 25%, zirconium, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, tantalum or iridium in the range of 0 to 15%, ruthenium in the range of 0 to 8%, and boron in the range of 0.005 to 1.5% (with the sum of the boron plus all the other solutes generally exceeding 0.5%).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a radiograph showing radio opacity of alloys according to the principles of the present invention in comparison to stainless steel and a platinum iridium alloy at 50 KV;

FIG. 2 is a radiograph showing radio opacity of alloys according to the principles of the present invention in comparison to stainless steel and a platinum iridium alloy at 60 KV;

Table 1 is a table of palladium alloys assigned a sequence number and showing constituents and characteristics;

Table 2 is a table of testing results for various alloys of the sequence of Table 1 at various annealing temperatures;

Table 3 is a table of strip and wire characteristics of some alloys of Table 1;

Table 4 is a table of strip test results for some alloys showing the effect of boron on a palladium alloy with 4.5% ruthenium;

Table 5 is a table of strip test results for some alloys showing the effect of cold work on the mechanical properties of selected alloys;

Table 6 is a table of radio opacity data for some alloys of Table 1 along with text describing the test conditions

Table 7 is a table of three alloy compositions used in biocompatibility testing;

Table 8 is a table showing the results of biocompatibility testing for a first of the alloys in Table 7;

Table 9 is a table showing the results of biocompatibility testing for a second of the alloys in Table 7;

Table 10 is a table showing the results of biocompatibility testing for a third of the alloys in Table 7;

Tables 11A, 11B, and 11C, are tables showing put ups for various alloys in the present alloy family and the characteristics thereof;

Table 12 is a table showing the effect of boron on the age hardening response for selected alloys.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In this document, the percentages of the alloy components refer to weight percent.

In the broadest sense, the present alloy is an alloy of palladium and boron with an additional element chosen from the following: ruthenium, rhenium, iridium, platinum, tungsten, gold, zirconium, cobalt, nickel and tantalum, or alternatively is an alloy of palladium and one or both of rhenium and ruthenium with an additional element chosen from the following: iridium, platinum, boron, tungsten, gold, zirconium, cobalt, nickel and tantalum. In one preferred embodiment, the alloy includes palladium and boron and at least one of ruthenium and rhenium. An exemplary embodiment has proportions of palladium (Pd) in the range of 45% to 99.95%, ruthenium (Ru) in the proportion of 0% to 8%, rhenium (Re) in the range of 0% to 25%, and boron (B) in the proportion of 0.005% to 1.5%. The ruthenium and rhenium components can be both present in the alloy, or the alloy may be formed with only one of these elements. In addition, additives may be included as follows:

-   -   Platinum (Pt) up to 30%,     -   Gold (Au) up to 30%,     -   Zirconium (Zr) up to 15%,     -   Tungsten (W) up to 15%,     -   Cobalt (C) up to 15%,     -   Iridium (Ir) up to 15%,     -   Nickel (N) up to 15%, and     -   Tantalum (Ta) up to 15%.

Within this broad family of alloys are at least six different subcategories:

-   -   Pd—Ru—B, with or without additives;     -   Pd—Re—B, with or without additives;     -   Pd—Ru—Re—B, with or without additives;     -   Pd—B alloys, with one or more of the following additives Re, Ru,         Zr, Co, Ir, Ni, Ta, Au, Pt, and W.     -   Pd—Re alloys with one or more of the following additives B, Ru,         Zr, Co, Ir, Ni, Ta, Au, Pt, and W.     -   Pd—Ru alloys with one or more of the following additives B, Re,         Zr, Co, Ir, Ni, Ta, Au, Pt, and W.     -   The scope of this invention is not limited to the foregoing list         of additives, but may include others.

The resulting alloys are capable of gaining additional strength due to a heat treating step, making use of an age hardening reaction.

The present alloys have a number of characteristics that make it a viable replacement for expensive platinum-iridium alloys, including a high degree of radio opacity (radiopaque), high strength, lower density, biocompatibility, and a lower cost. Each of these will be addressed in the following. The present alloy is ideally suited as a medical radiopaque marker, a medical lead, an implant component, electrodes, or a guidewire tips or coils. The alloy may be used in catheters, for example as radiopaque markers, coils or feed-through components.

For use in the body, the alloy must be biocompatible. Three families of alloys according to this disclosure, namely the Pd—Ru—B alloy, the Pd—Re—B alloy, and the Pd—Ru—Re—B alloy, have all been tested for biocompatibility and all three have passed a battery of five tests. Details of the biocompatibility tests are set forth in Tables 7, 8, 9 and 10, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The alloy families of the present invention provide a potential savings of hundreds of dollars per ounce compared to commercial platinum-iridium alloys. Thus, a first cost saving aspect is due to the lower cost components. The present alloys have a lower density level than the platinum-iridium alloys so that each ounce of material provides a larger volume of material while still providing a strength generally equivalent to, and in some cases exceeding that, of 90% platinum-10% iridium alloys. The lower density is a second cost saving aspect. The type and proportion of added elements can vary the density of the alloy. However, density levels for the alloys within the scope of this invention offer densities that are 20% to 50% lower than a 90% platinum-10% iridium alloy.

The high strength palladium-boron plus additive alloys envisioned by this invention provide improved mechanical properties and processing characteristics verses conventional palladium-ruthenium casting alloys used in some jewelry alloys. The strength of the material is important for many applications, particularly for in-body applications. The present alloy has excellent strength characteristics. The mechanical properties are reported in tables described hereinbelow.

Various alloys in the present alloy family have been prepared and tested. In the processing of these alloys, alternating steps of cold working, typically followed by an annealing step, is performed. At the end of the processing sequence, the cold working is often followed by a stress relief annealing step for improved ductility. The resulting alloy has a high strength in combination with good formability. The cold working has been performed with a 50% cold working, and with 75% cold working which yields an even harder alloy. For example, the hardness of an embodiment of the alloy before and after cold working by 75% changed from 134 to 270 Knoop. A similar change is seen in a further embodiment of 265-400 Knoop. The processing and resulting characteristics is reported in the accompanying tables.

In general, a four element alloy version (Pd—Ru—Re—B) of the present invention provides the same strength level as the 90-10 platinum-iridium alloy at half the total solute content. As noted herein, three element alloy versions (also referred to a ternary alloys) (Pd—Ru—B or Pd—Re—B) also provide excellent replacement possibility for the platinum-iridium alloys. The present alloy system provides high strength levels without a loss of pro cessability.

In particular applicants have found, surprisingly, that synergies exist when boron is added to the ruthenium and/or rhenium containing alloys. For example, while alloys 933 and 938 as shown in Table 11 A differ by only about 0.35% boron, the addition of boron resulted in a doubling of cold worked hardness while maintaining surprising ductility. Similar increases in cold hardness is seen for many of the paired alloys showed in Tables 11A, 11B and 11C.

For example, applicants have discovered boron shows the same marked synergy when rhenium is present without ruthenium. Comparison of alloys 897 and 893 demonstrate this synergy. The addition of only about 0.35% boron to a 10% rhenium containing alloy caused an increase in cold worked hardness from Knoop 319 without the boron to Knoop 477 with boron added.

An increase in solute levels of Re in the alloy to about 11% has provided very strong alloys.

Applicants have also found, and disclosed in the tables, and in particular in Tables 1-11, that the proportions of ruthenium, rhenium and boron in these alloys can be varied such that alloys having more boron require less ruthenium and/or rhenium to reach the same hardness levels.

As noted herein, applicants have further discovered that additions of other elements further add to the remarkably high strength and ductility of these alloy families. By way of demonstrating these effects, when applicants added 10% of tungsten to Alloy 917, thereby creating alloy 981 applicants increased the cold worked hardness from Knoop 423 to Knoop 503, without sacrificing ductility. Having ductility at such high hardnesses has not, as far as applicants know, been reported for other alloys containing either platinum or palladium as their major constituents. By ductility in the foregoing examples, applicants refer to the condition of the edge of the strip samples as they are rolled, or wrought, down to thinner thicknesses such that the high hardness achieved by cold working was not accompanied by edge defects as those skilled in the art would expect to find while trying to cold work alloys of such high hardnesses.

To put the above increases of hardness into clearer perspective, tests done on the binary combinations of these elements do not reach these extreme hardness values. For example, alloy 925, consisting of palladium plus 0.35% boron added had a cold worked hardness of only Knoop 270 at 75% CW. Similarly an alloy, alloy 935, consisting of palladium plus 4.0% ruthenium had a cold worked hardness only Knoop 208 at 75% CW level. Likewise an alloy consisting of palladium plus 5% rhenium, alloy 887, had a cold worked hardness of only Knoop 265 with 75% CW.

The attached tables include a Table 1 showing alloys numbers 844 through 884, and identify the constituent components as well as the percentage of elongation and hardness results from testing at 50% cold work. Boron content in these specifications refers to the proportion of boron added during initial alloying, not to the proportion of boron found in the finished alloy. Due to the poor efficiency of capturing boron additions in the molten metal, a retention of only about 20% to 60% of the quantity originally added during alloying is found.

Table 2, identified as short term thermal tests, shows short term heat treatment tests for alloys No. 880, 882, and 883, each of which have been cold worked to two different percentages of cold work. The results of the hardness testing are shown both before and after the heat treatment. For all three alloys the hardness increase with thermal exposure showing initial evidence of an age hardening response. The response in more pronounced with increased cold work prior to aging.

Table 3 illustrates the properties of the alloy 852 that has been formed into a strip and into a wire, contrasting the strip verses wire properties, including the benefits of a stress relief anneal to provide a significant increase in elongation.

Table 4 presents the test results for alloys 846 and 851-853 illustrating the effect of increased boron in a Pd-4.5% Ru alloy.

Table 5 presents test results for alloys 877 to 886, and illustrates the significant increase in mechanical properties for cold work factors over 50%.

Table 6 describes the radiopacity trials done on selective alloys according to the invention. The testing reveals a high degree of radiopacity for the embodiments of the invention. The test conditions are as follows. X-ray testing was done at radiographic laboratory (using standard equipment). All the metal samples were 0.009 inches thick. The initial (50 KV) tests used conventional settings for extremity cassette exposure. Exposures were also done at increased X-ray tube voltages. This acts to increase the penetrating power of the x-ray and makes it harder to detect the stainless steel sample. However, both the 90Pt-10Ir sample and alloys 847, 879 and 883 according to this invention were easy to see over all test conditions used. The stainless steel and 90Pt-10IR coupons are included as comparison standards.

A key characteristic of the platinum-iridium alloys which should be found in a viable replacement is that of radio opacity. Since radio opacity tends to follow density, the densities of the present alloys have good radio opacity for most applications. In particular, the present alloy is denser than stainless steel and thus will be more radio opaque than stainless.

A common belief is that the radiopacity of material is a cubic function of the atomic number. The atomic number of platinum is 78 and the atomic number of palladium is 47, yet the tests have revealed a surprising result in that the present alloys are nearly as radio opaque as the platinum-iridium alloys. The Table 6 and following figures demonstrate the radiopacity of these alloys compared to 17-4 PH stainless steel and 90% platinum-10% iridium.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show two of the actual radiographs described in Table 6. The samples of the present alloy have one, two or three corners cut off and the comparison sample of stainless steel has four corners cut off, while a comparison sample of Pd—Ir has no corners cut off. In FIG. 1, the test has done with samples of the alloys 847, 879 and 883 and with stainless steel and a 90:10 platinum-iridium alloy for comparison. The samples were all prepared to a thickness of 0.009 inches in thickness and were x-rayed in a standard x-ray machine of with the x-ray tube voltage set at 50 Kv. The stainless steel sample has a low radiopacity by comparison, whereas the platinum-iridium sample has a high radiopacity. The alloys of the present invention also have a high radiopacity, approaching that of the platinum-iridium sample.

In FIG. 2, the tube voltage was increased to 60 Kv to increase the penetration of the x-rays. The stainless steel sample nearly disappears but the present alloys, 847, 879 and 883, and the platinum-iridium sample have a high degree of radiopacity. In the view of FIG. 2, the background has been lightened to show the location of the stainless steel sample, which would otherwise not be apparent.

Densitometer measurements of the film was done after exposure to the x-rays at various tube voltages. At 50 Kv, the stainless steel has a rating of 0.66, the three alloys 847, 879 and 883 each have ratings of 0.20, and the Pd—Ir alloy has a rating of 0.20. At a tube current of 60 Kv, the stainless steel sample rating is 2.17, the three alloys samples 847, 879 and 883 are rated at 0.25, 0.23 and 0.24, respectively, and the Pl-Ir sample is 0.22. A further increase of the tube current to 70 Kv results in a measured rating for the stainless steel sample at 3.28, for the three alloys 847, 879 and 883 at 0.72, 0.62 and 0.66, respectively, and for the Pd—Ir sample at 0.39.

Uses of the present alloy family include in medical devices including radio opaque medical devices, machined medical devices and implantable medical devices. In addition, the present alloy may readily be used in electrical contact applications, the jewelry market and other applications requiring high strength, high hardness and good tarnish resistance. The present alloys are particularly advantageous as low noise signal contacts and may be used as either sliding electrical contacts or static electrical contacts.

The present alloy is seen as a replacement for 90:10 platinum-iridium alloys as well as 85:15 platinum-iridium alloys and may replace 80:20 platinum-iridium alloys in some applications. Mechanical testing has been carried out on the alloys of this alloy family and the results are set forth in the tables. The strength data included testing of the raw alloys, testing after cold working in various percentages and after annealing for stress relief at various temperatures. For example, cold working has been carried out at 50% and at 75%, with a higher strength product seen after the 75% cold working.

The thermal exposure data in Tables 2 and 12 indicate that for some of the alloys within this family, higher strength and hardness levels are achievable though the use of a post form heat treatment.

Particularly high strength and hardness values are seen, for example, in alloys 880, 882, and 883 wherein the strength, measured in the Knoop hardness scale increases significantly after stress relief annealing. In particular, see alloy No. 883. Referring to the table of alloys in the alloy family, alloy No. 883 has proportions of palladium of 90.15%, ruthenium of 4.5%, and boron of 0.35% and 5% rhenium. The percentage of rhenium may extend up to 20%, as may be determined by reference to a palladium rhenium binary phase diagram. The alloy No. 883 reached a Knoop hardness level of 503, after a short term aging anneal following 66% cold work, thus holding particular promise. This increasing hardness when held at an intermediate temperature suggests that some of the alloys in this family undergo an age hardening or ordering reaction. This is further illustrated in Table 12.

Thus, the strength of the present alloy families has been shown. The present alloy family has proven to be biocompatible as well. In general, members of the platinum group metals are biocompatible. Although rhenium is a refractory metal, it shares many of the physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics of the platinum group elements, and this element is known to have good biocompatibility and osteoconductivity characteristics.

In Table 7 is a listing of alloys 847, 900 and 902, the components of which are shown in the table, that have been formed into strips and wires and tested for biocompatibility. The three alloys passed five biocompatibility tests, including: 1) cytotoxicity using the ISO elution method, 2) ISO intracutaneous testing using aqueous and organic extraction, 3) ISO systemic toxicity testing using aqueous and organic extraction, 4) ISO muscle implant for two weeks, and 5) in vitro hemolysis using aqueous extraction (a modified ASTM process). ASTM=American Society for Testing and Materials.

Tables 8, 9 and 10 show the specific testing results for each of the alloys 847, 900 and 902, respectively, in the form of a test matrix. The results show excellent biocompatibility for these materials.

Testing as to formability of the present alloy family suggests that they may be formed into spring coils and the like without cracking, which is surprising for materials of such high hardness.

Tables 11A, 11 B, and 11C show examples of alloys, including alloys 924 through 1014. In most cases, the alloys are paired together to show the increased mechanical properties that occur with small additions of boron. The alloy put up compositions are shown as is information on hardness, tensile strength and processability. In some cases, the alloys work hardened to such a degree that additional reductions exceeded the hold down force of the rolling mill. These cases are shown with circles around the resultant cold work percentage.

Table 12 shows the age hardening response of the alloys 948, 952, 953 and 954 which shows the hardness results for three boron containing alloys with higher solute levels. All of these alloys achieved hardness levels above 500 Hk (100) after aging. As in cold work cases shown in Tables 11A-C, the addition of the B (boron) greatly enhanced the final hardness.

The data presented in the tables also reveals that alloys of palladium with rhenium and an additional component and alloys of palladium with ruthenium and an additional component have a characteristics which make them a viable and valuable replacement for the platinum-iridium alloys of the prior art. In particular, such palladium and either rhenium or ruthenium based alloys with an additional component have tested to a high strength. These palladium and either ruthenium or rhenium based alloys are presented as alloy numbers 994, 980, 971 and 957 in the tables. Testing of these alloys has revealed a shortcoming for these embodiment, in that there is a lack of ductility. However, the reduced ductility characteristic is less important in casting alloys and so it is foreseen that these alloys may be used in cast products. It is also foreseeable that further anneals for processing these alloys may increase the ductility characteristic, although testing of such further processing has not yet been completed.

Thus, there is disclosed an alloy which is a viable replacement to platinum iridium alloys while providing a lower cost and meeting the significant characteristics of the more expensive known alloy. The present alloy family includes alloys with varying ranges of components and various additives as noted above. These alloys may be used in medical applications, where they are worked and annealed and may be formed into strips or wires, or tubes, or coils, or into machined components. In addition, it is foreseen that the present alloy family may find applications as sliding electrical contact materials (where high hardness and tarnish resistance is required), utility in cast jewelry (rather than worked metal), or may be utilized in various other application where the advantageous characteristics of this alloy family are required.

The examples presented hereinbelow represent the current optimization of embodiments. However, further changes, additions or deletions may also be possible and are within the scope of this invention.

EXAMPLES OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Within the broad families of alloys that are within the scope of this invention are a number of more preferred compositions that are ideally suited to particular applications. For instance, a preferred alloy of a first embodiment has a balance of Pd (palladium)-about 10.5% Re (rhenium)- and about 0.08% B (boron) nominal. The ranges of the components for this first embodiment are: Re (rhenium) 10.5% plus or minus 0.5%-B (boron) 0.08% plus or minus +0.05%- and a balance of Pd (palladium). This embodiment has attributes of low cost, low density, biocompatible (similar to PE 902), good radiopacity, and high strength. The potential uses for this alloy include use as catheter coils; trails indicate coiling characteristics similar to Pt—Ni and Pt—W alloys.

An alloy according to the first embodiment, which is referred to in the tables as alloy 1100, has been formed into wires with diameters between 0.0025 inch and 0.010 inch. The alloy is provided in two grades, a standard grade and a medical grade. The standard grade has a balance of Pd, 10 to 1% Re, 0.03 to 0.13 B, a maximum of 1000 ppm for each of Rh, Pt, Ru, Os, Au and Ag, and a maximum of 0.2% of other ingredients. The medical grade has a balance of Pd, 10 to 11% Re, 0.03 to 0.13 B, a maximum of 1000 ppm for each of Rh, Pt, Ru, Os, Au and Ag, a total of 30 ppm maximum for Pb, As, Bi and Cd, a maximum 100 ppm for Cu, a maximum 75 ppm for Ni, a maximum 100 ppm for Fe, and a maximum 500 ppm for other ingredients excluding Rh, Pt, Ru, Os, Ag and Au, with a maximum 200 ppm for all other elements. For a wire according to this embodiment of a diameter of 0.002 inches to 0.015 inches, a stress relieved strength (UTS) of 180 to 235 ksi has been achieved for an elongation of 2.5% minimum in 10 in gauge length.

In this first embodiment, the primary solutes are Pd, Re and B. The component Ru can be treated as a potential additive

In a second embodiment, the alloy has a balance of Pd-about 5% Re- and about 0.08% B nominal. The ranges for the components are Re 5% plus or minus 0.5%-B 0.08% plus or minus 0.05% and a balance of Pd. This embodiment has attributes of low cost, low density, biocompatible, good radiopacity, and moderate strength.

In a third embodiment, the alloy has a balance of Pd-about 10% W-about 4% Ru- and about 0.08% B nominal. The components of this embodiment are in a range of W 10% plus or minus 0.5%-Ru 4% plus or minus 0.5%-B 0.08% plus or minus 0.05% and a balance of Pd. The attributes of this embodiment are low cost, low density, very high hardness with good processability, good radiopacity, and high strength.

In a fourth embodiment, the alloy has a balance of Pd-about 20% Re-about 4% Ru- and about 0.08% B nominal. The components of this embodiment are in a range of Re 20% plus or minus 1%-Ru 4% plus or minus 0.5%-B 0.08% plus or minus 0.05% and a balance of Pd. The attributes of this alloy are low cost, low density, good radiopacity, high strength, and an age hardenable system capable of reaching hardness level of nearly 600 Hk.

In a fifth embodiment, the alloy has a balance of Pd-about 2% Ru- and about 0.08% B nominal. The ranges are Ru 2% plus or minus 0.5%-B 0.08% plus or minus 0.05% and a balance of Pd. The attributes are low cost, low density, good radiopacity, and moderate strength.

The benefits of all these alloys—low density with unexpected high strength and high radiopacity. Also much lower cost that Pt alloys—two fold benefit—lower intrinsic value for Pd verses Pt (currently a factor of nearly 4 to 1), and lower density gives additional benefit of more material per oz. Radiopacity is unexpected since at Kev (x-ray energy level) of interest here—we were told radiopacity should be a cubic function of the atomic number (Pd is 47 and Pt is 78), and yet as shown in the provisional patent application these alloys are very close to Pt—Ir alloys.

Although other modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution to the art.

TABLE 1 Selected Alloys Evaluated put up at 50% CW Severe alloy # Pd Ru B Ir Re Pt W Au Zr Co UTS % el hard Edge cracking 844 99.65 0.35 67 0.2 176 no 845 98.15 1.5 0.35 89 1.1 222 no 846 95.5 4.5 108 0.6 248 no 849 95.45 4.5 0.05 121 0.8 303 no 850 95.43 4.5 0.075 107 0.6 267 no 851 95.4 4.5 0.1 107 0.7 280 no 852 95.3 4.5 0.2 123 0.7 309 no 825 95.2 4.5 0.3 108 0.3 no 847 95.15 4.5 0.35 114 1.3 286 no 826 95.05 4.5 0.15 0.3 137 0.8 no 853 94.8 4.5 0.7 143 1.1 389 yes 822 94.5 5.5 104 0.9 yes 854 94.5 4.5 1 126 0.1 308 yes 858 94.15 4.5 0.35 1 127 1 291 no 863 94.15 4.5 0.35 1 109 0.2 291 no 864 94.15 4.5 0.35 1 121 0.6 292 no 855 94 4.5 1.5 114 0.1 435 yes 848 93.15 6.5 0.35 118 1.1 292 yes 827 93.05 4.5 0.15 0.3 2 122 0.8 no 812 92.5 7.5 no 820 92.5 4.5 3 131 0.5 no 859 92.15 4.5 0.35 3 128 0.7 311 yes 856 91.65 8 0.35 286 yes 821 91.5 5.5 3 yes 811 90.5 4.5 0.5 4.5 106 0.5 243 yes 857 89.65 10 0.35 >482 yes 860 85.15 4.5 0.35 10 122 0.4 303 no 861 85.15 4.5 0.35 9.2 0.8 135 1.1 328 no 862 85.15 4.5 0.35 10 111 1 266 no

TABLE 2 Short Term Thermal Tests Hardness, HK(100) vs. Anneal Temperature As Cold Annealing Temperature, ° C. for 1 minute PE # % CW Worked 450 500 550 600 700 750 880 50 338 365 348 345 371 360 343 67 333 465 451 443 451 419 429 882 50 325 368 378 384 377 368 350 69 439 491 472 457 465 453 444 883 50 367 414 404 415 418 338 395 66 449 503 476 462 461 459 461 Alloy Composition Pd Pt Ru B Re W 880 79.85 15 4.5 .35 .3 882 79.85 13.8 4.5 .35 .3 1.2 883 90.15 4.5 .35 5

TABLE 3 Strip vs. Wire Properties as Cold Worked and The Beneficial Effect Of A Stress Relief Anneal on Elongation of Cold Worked Wire Alloy UTS 0.2% YS Elongation (Composition) Condition (Size) (ksi) (ksi) (%) PE-852 Strip 50% CW (.009″) 122.6 117.7 <1 (95.3 Pd, 4.5 Ru, 0.2 B) PE-852-2 Wire 48% CW (.095″) 149.0 — <1 (95.3 Pd, 4.5 40% CW + SR (.102″) 134.5 — 8.8 Ru, 0.2 B) Notes: Compositions as put-up + additional 5% Boron, e.g. 0.21% Stress Relief Anneal (SR): 1350° F./1.5 min./Air/WQ Gage Lengths: Strip = 2″ Wire = 0.5″

TABLE 4 Effect of B in a Pd—4.5% Ru Alloy Alloy UTS 0.2% YS Elongation Hardness Edge (Composition) Condition (Size) (ksi) (ksi) (% in 2″) (HK100) Condition PE-846 50% CW (.009″) 107.5 104.3 0.6 248 1 (95.5 Pd, 4.5 Ru) PE-851 50% CW (.009″) 106.6 102.4 0.7 280 1 (95.4 Pd, 4.5 Ru, 0.1 B) PE-852 50% CW (.009″) 122.6 117.7 0.7 309 1 (95.3 Pd, 4.5 Ru, 0.2 B) PE-853 50% CW (.009″) 142.7 133.1 1.1 389 4 (94.8 Pd, 4.5 Ru, 0.7 B)

TABLE 5 Strip Test Results Showing Some Effects of Cold Work on Various Alloys Alloy UTS 0.2% YS Elongation Hardness Edge (Composition) Condition (Size) (ksi) (ksi) (% in 2″) HK100 Condition PE-877 50% CW (.009″) 127.8  94.0 0.2 264 1 (96.35 Pd, 3.0 Ru, .35 B, 0.3 Re) 75% CW (.008″) 177.5 141.3 0.8 380 1 PE-879 50% CW (.009″) 134.1 132.7 0.1 337 1 (80.15 Pd, 15.0 Pt, 4.5 Ru, 0.35 B) 69% CW (.0103″) 172.6 152.8 1.0 456 1 PE-880 50% CW (.009″) 140.6 136.9 0.8 338 1 (79.85 Pd, 15.0 Pt, 4.5 Ru, .35 B, .3 Re) 67% CW (.0108″) 182.0 163.6 0.8 333 1 PE-881 50% CW (.009″) 150.0 149.4 0.1 334 1 (80.15 Pd, 13.8 Pt, 4.5 Ru, .35 B, 1.2 W) 66% CW (.0113″) 192.7 169.7 0.9 433 1 PE-882 50% CW (.009″) 140.9 137.6 0.1 325 1 (79.85 Pd, 13.8 Pt, 4.5 Ru, .3 Re, 69% CW (.0102″) 191.1 164.9 1.2 439 1 0.35 B, 1.2 W) PE-883 50% CW (.009″) 161.0 153.2 0.1 367 1 (90.15 Pd, 4.5 Ru, 5.0 Re, 0.35 B) 66% CW (.0113″) 186.2 168.4 0.5 449 1 PE-884 50% CW (.009″) 149.0 146.4 0.7 395 4 (70.15 Pd, 4.5 Ru, 25.0 Pt, 0.35 B) 68% CW (.0106″) 203.0 — 0.1 487 4 PE-885 50% CW (.009″) 121.7 116.1 0.6 334 4 (83.65 Pd, 6.0 Ru, 10.0 Pt, 0.35 B,) 68% CW (.0106″) 167.1 144.8 0.5 445 4 PE-886 59% CW (.00725″) 140.2 — 0.1 370 4 (81.15 Pd, 6.0 Ru, 0.35 B, 10.0 Pt, 69% CW (.0102″) — — — 507 4 2.5 Re)

Summary of Test Conditions:

X-ray testing was done at local radiographic laboratory (using standard equipment). All the metal samples were 0.009″ thick. The initial (50 KV) tests used conventional settings for extremity cassette exposure. Exposures were also done at increased X-ray tube voltages. This acts to increase the penetrating power of the x-ray and makes it harder to detect the stainless steel sample. However, both the 90Pt-10Ir sample and alloys within the scope of this invention were easy to see over all test conditions used. The stainless steel and 90Pt-10Ir coupons are included as comparison standards.

TABLE 6 Radiopacity Data Summary of Radiographic Data (densitometer readings) Alloy 50 Kv 60 Kv 70 Kv 17-4 PH .66 2.17 3.28 Stainless steel Alloy 847 .20 .25 .72 Alloy 879 .20 .23 .62 Alloy 883 .20 .24 .66 90Pt—10Ir .20 .22 .39

TABLE 7TABLE 7 Materials used for Biocompatibility Testing Analyzed Compositions (wt %) Alloy Pd Re Ru B Au Zr Fe Pt Ir PE-847 strip 95.70 — 4.19 0.05 0.01 0.03 0.03 wire 95.74 4.17 0.04 0.02 0.03 PE-900 strip 89.04 9.20 1.67 0.03 0.01 0.17 wire 89.03 4.70 0.04 0.14 PE-902 strip 89.27 10.51 — 0.03 0.19 0.01 wire 89.66 10.12 0.03 0.19

TABLE 8 Biocompatibility Test Results for alloy 847 Test Method and Criteria Results Cytotoxicity - MEM elution with L929 mouse No reactivity ISO 10993-5 fibroblast cell culture Irritation and Intracutaneous injection with Irritation Sensitization aqueous and organic extracts judged as ISO 10093-10 slight to neglible Systemic Toxicity- Systemic injection with aqueous No adverse ISO 10993-11 and organic extracts biological reaction Interactions with Hemolysis study by extract 0.0% Blood ISO-10993-4 hemolysis Implantation 2 week implant in muscle of No adverse ISO-10993-6 rabbit biological reactions

TABLE 9 Biocompatibility Test Results for alloy 900 Test Method and Criteria Results Cytotoxicity - MEM elution with L929 mouse No reactivity ISO 10993-5 fibroblast cell culture Irritation and Intracutaneous injection with Irritation Sensitization aqueous and organic extracts judged as ISO 10093-10 neglible Systemic Toxicity- Systemic injection with aqueous No adverse ISO 10993-11 and organic extracts biological reaction Interactions with Blood Hemolysis study by extract 0.0% ISO-10993-4 hemolysis Implantation 2 week implant in muscle of No adverse ISO-10993-6 rabbit biological reactions

TABLE 10 Biocompatibility Test Results for alloy 902 Test Method and Criteria Results Cytotoxicity - MEM elution with L929 mouse No reactivity ISO 10993-5 fibroblast cell culture Irritation and Intracutaneous injection with Irritation Sensitization aqueous and organic extracts judged as ISO 10093-10 slight to neglible Systemic Toxicity- Systemic injection with aqueous No adverse ISO 10993-11 and organic extracts biological reaction Interactions with Blood Hemolysis study by extract 0.0% ISO-10993-4 hemolysis Implantation 2 week implant in muscle of No adverse ISO-10993-6 rabbit biological reactions

TABLE 11 A Hardness change Put-Up Composition, wt % Edge* Hard. with B UTS Alloy Code Pd Re Ru B Pt Ir W Au Zr Co Ni % CW Cond. HK (100) addition ksi PE- 924 100.00 75 1 134 51 PE- 925 99.65 0.35 75 1 270 136 98 PE- 887 95.00 5.00 75 1 265 105 PE- 889 94.65 5.00 0.35 75 1 398 133 146 PE- 897 90.00 10.00 75 2 319 137 PE- 893 89.65 10.00 0.35 75 1 477 158 191 PE- 899 85.00 15.00 75 3 391 150 PE- 891 84.65 15.00 0.35

3 537 146 230 PE- 928 80.00 20.00

4 452 191 PE- 930 79.65 20.00 0.35

4 585 133 PE- 932 99.50 0.50 75 1 159 60 PE- 937 99.15 0.50 0.35 75 1 284 125 102 PE- 933 99.00 1.00 75 1 166 65 PE- 938 98.65 1.00 0.35 75 1 328 162 124 PE- 934 98.00 2.00 75 1 178 69 PE- 939 97.65 2.00 0.35 75 1 369 191 136 PE- 935 96.00 4.00 75 1 208 85 PE- 917 95.65 4.00 0.35 75 2 423 215 170 PE- 936 92.00 8.00 75 4 318 141 PE- 856 91.65 8.00 0.35 75 4 495 177 193 PE- 941 89.00 10.00 1.00 75 1 329 141 PE- 950 88.65 10.00 1.00 0.35

2 463 134 208 PE- 942 83.00 15.00 2.00 75 3 398 185 PE- 952 82.65 15.00 2.00 0.35

4 362 na

 Note- Work Hardening level too high to allow continued processing without intermediate anneal

TABLE 11 B Hardness change Put-Up Composition, wt % Edge* Hard. with B UTS Alloy Code Pd Re Ru B Pt Ir W Au Zr Co Ni % CW Cond. HK (100) addition ksi PE- 957 80.00 10.00 10.00 75 2 402 176 PE- 958 79.65 10.00 0.35 10.00 75 3 485 83 192 PE- 959 86.00 4.00 10.00 75 3 393 174 PE- 960 85.65 4.00 0.35 10.00 75 4 458 65 PE- 961 76.00 10.00 4.00 10.00

4 430 PE- 962 75.65 10.00 4.00 0.35 10.00 75 4 452 22 198 PE- 964 80.00 10.00 10.00 75 1 347 149 PE- 965 79.65 10.00 0.35 10.00 75 4 503 156 214 PE- 966 86.00 4.00 10.00 75 2 266 107 PE- 967 85.65 4.00 0.35 10.00 75 1 385 119 169 PE- 968 76.00 10.00 4.00 10.00 75 4 391 173 PE- 969 75.65 10.00 4.00 0.35 10.00

4 586 195 PE- 971 80.00 10.00 10.00

2 516 219 PE- 972 79.65 10.00 0.35 10.00 75 4 552 36 181 PE- 973 86.00 4.00 10.00 75 4 468 161 PE- 974 85.65 4.00 0.35 10.00

4 525 57 192 PE- 975 76.00 10.00 4.00 10.00

4 479 PE- 976 75.65 10.00 4.00 0.35 10.00

4 481 2 PE- 978 80.00 10.00 10.00 75 4 440 132 PE- 979 79.65 10.00 0.35 10.00

4 566 126 234 PE- 980 86.00 4.00 10.00 75 2 350 154 PE- 981 85.65 4.00 0.35 10.00

1 503 153 218 PE- 982 76.00 10.00 4.00 10.00

4 457 PE- 983 75.65 10.00 4.00 0.35 10.00

4 546 89

 Note- Work Hardening level too high to allow continued processing without intermediate anneal

TABLE 11 C Hardness Hard. change Put-Up Composition, wt % % Edge* HK with B UTS Alloy Code Pd Re Ru B Pt Ir W Au Zr Co Ni CW Cond. (100) addition ksi PE- 985 80.00 10.00 10.00 75 1 367 165 PE- 986 79.65 10.00 0.35 10.00 75 1 426 59 178 PE- 987 86.00 4.00 10.00 75 3 346 166 PE- 988 85.65 4.00 0.35 10.00

2 413 67 186 PE- 989 76.00 10.00 4.00 10.00 75 4 406 172 PE- 990 75.65 10.00 4.00 0.35 10.00 75 4 485 79 188 PE- 992 80.00 10.00 10.00

4 414 PE- 993 79.65 10.00 0.35 10.00

4 488 74 PE- 994 86.00 4.00 10.00 75 1 347 151 PE- 995 85.65 4.00 0.35 10.00 75 4 473 126 153 PE- 996 76.00 10.00 4.00 10.00

4 388 PE- 997 75.65 10.00 4.00 0.35 10.00

4 462 74 PE- 999 80.00 10.00 10.00 75 1 315 139 PE- 1000 79.65 10.00 0.35 10.00

1 460 145 192 PE- 1001 86.00 4.00 10.00 75 1 233 105 PE- 1002 85.65 4.00 0.35 10.00 75 1 360 127 138 PE- 1003 76.00 10.00 4.00 10.00

4 449 PE- 1004 75.65 10.00 4.00 0.35 10.00

4 507 58 PE- 955 90.00 10.00 75 1 281 119 PE- 956 89.65 0.35 10.00 75 1 357 76 132 PE- 970 90.00 10.00 75 1 459 180 PE- 1010 89.65 0.35 10.00 75 4 486 27 132 PE- 977 90.00 10.00 75 1 301 126 PE- 1011 89.65 0.35 10.00 75 1 471 170 192 PE- 984 90.00 10.00 75 1 274 114 PE- 1012 89.65 0.35 10.00 75 1 380 106 150 PE- 991 90.00 10.00 75 1 250 97 PE- 1013 89.65 0.35 10.00 75 1 360 110 171 PE- 998 90.00 10.00 75 1 162 66 PE- 1014 89.65 0.35 10.00 75 1 288 126 108 PE- 963 90.00 10.00 75 1 178 69 PE- 1009 89.65 0.35 10.00 75 1 336 158 140

 Note - Work Hardening level too high to allow continued processing without intermediate anneal

TABLE 12 Increased Age Hardening Response when adding B to Pd—Ru—Re alloys Hardness Hardness Hk (100) increase As After Hardness from Alloy Composition (wt %) cold 760 F./60 m increase adding B Alloy code Pd Re Ru B % CW worked HT after HT (after HT) PE- 942 83.00 15.00 2.00 50 398 453 26 134 PE- 952 82.65 15.00 2.00 0.35 50 362 522 160 PE- 943 76.00 20.00 4.00 AC 481 487 6 117 PE- 953 75.65 20.00 4.00 0.35 50 468 591 123 PE- 942 67.00 25.00 8.00 AC 398 453 26 37 PE- 954 66.65 25.00 8.00 0.35 45 486 549 63 

1. A wrought palladium-based alloy, consisting essentially of: palladium and boron in a range of 0.005 to 1.5 percent and rhenium in a range of 3 to 20 percent to provide an alloy have good cold work processing, said wrought alloy being formed into a device.
 2. A wrought palladium-based alloy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wrought alloy has a structure corresponding to having been cold worked and at least partially annealed.
 3. A wrought palladium-based alloy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said product is an electrical contact.
 4. A wrought palladium-based alloy as claimed in claim 3, wherein said electrical contact is a sliding contact.
 5. A wrought palladium-based alloy as claimed in claim 3, wherein said electrical contact is a static contact.
 6. A wrought palladium-based alloy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said alloy having palladium in a range of 78.5-96.995 percent.
 7. A wrought palladium-based alloy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said product is a fabricated wire or strip.
 8. An alloy comprising three primary elements as follows: a first primary element Pd as a balance of the alloy; a second primary element Re in a range of 5%±0.5%; and a third primary element B in a range of 0.08%±0.05%.
 9. A palladium-based alloy, consisting essentially of: an alloy of palladium and rhenium in a range of 3 to 20 percent and boron in a range of 0.005 to 1.5 percent and up to 15 percent of a fourth element, said fourth element is at least one of ruthenium, iridium, platinum, tungsten, gold, zirconium, cobalt, nickel and tantalum.
 10. A product formed of a palladium-based alloy, comprising: a palladium-based alloy consisting of palladium and rhenium in a range of 3 to 20 percent and boron in a range of 0.005 to 1.5 percent and up to 15 percent of a fourth element, said fourth element is at least one of ruthenium, iridium, platinum, tungsten, gold, zirconium, cobalt, nickel and tantalum; and said product being formed of said alloy.
 11. A product as claimed in claim 10, wherein said product is formed of said alloy by being cold worked, said alloy having good cold work processing.
 12. A product as claimed in claim 10, wherein said product is an in-body medical device.
 13. A product as claimed in claim 10, wherein said product is an electrical contact.
 14. A product as claimed in claim 10, wherein said product is at least partially annealed.
 15. A product as claimed in claim 10, wherein said product is an in-body medical device.
 16. A product formed of a palladium-based alloy, comprising: a palladium-based alloy consisting essentially of palladium, rhenium and boron, said alloy having palladium in a range of 78.5-96.995 percent, boron in a range of 0.005 to 1.5 percent, and rhenium in a range of 3 to 20 percent.; and said product being machined. 